JOURNEY TO GUATEMALA. 



173 



ourselves, he could place one at our disposal that was un- 

 occupied. " It is true," said he, " that the house is unfur- 

 nished ; but I will supply you with such things as may be 

 indispensable to your accommodation for the night." The 

 proposal was accepted and generally approved, to the visi- 

 ble satisfaction of our host, who was thus rid of the trou- 

 ble and confusion we were likely to cause him. 



The house assigned us was large and commodious, 

 with a piazza in front, a court-yard, and a spacious stable. 

 Don Basilio sent us a table, three chairs, two mattresses, 

 and a few other articles, with which we expressed our- 

 selves quite satisfied, and assured him that, for the rest, we 

 could take care of ourselves. The hall of the house was 

 assigned to the soldiers, who, after partaking of a treat that 

 we gave them in consideration of the fatigues of that day's 

 march, stretched themselves on the bare tiles, and slept 

 like children. Don Ignacio, the officer, and myself, estab- 

 lished our quarters in another apartment, and the arrieros 

 and mules took possession of the stables. There was no 

 want of provisions in the town ; and having the portable 

 cupboard to resort to, and two diligent attendants to wait 

 on us, we fared unusually well, and passed a comfortable 

 night. 



The next day a dark and cloudy sky threatened a day 

 of rain. Presently a few light showers, and the sound of 

 distant thunder, satisfied us of the little chance there was 

 of resuming our journey that day without suffering the 

 inconvenience of another wetting. About 2 o'clock — the 

 usual hour, as I have before observed — it began to pour, 

 and all idea of quitting Salama till the next morning, was 

 abandoned. 



In the mean time I availed myself of a short interval of 

 clear weather to take a view of the town, which, I was in- 

 formed, was the head of a Department, or province, and 

 contained a population of four or five thousand inhabi- 

 tants. It was a large and apparently a flourishing place, 

 with some good streets, and a plaza, in which were situ- 



